Go hands-free on your commute with these helpful — and stylish — work bags that fit laptops and more.
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For those who want a more comfortable commute, a work backpack comes in clutch. Nowadays, work backpacks for women have come a long way from standard college backpacks or hefty travel backpacks. These work bags feature all the bells and whistles, from helpful organizational pouches to laptop compartments — all in one slim, chic design.
We researched work backpacks that can help you shoulder your computer, books and other miscellaneous items. Keeping ingenious organization and fashionable design top of mind, we found an array of bags, including options made from vegan leather or easy-to-clean nylon and versions that let you stow a couple of snacks and a water bottle without bogging you down. Our top picks include tried-and-true bags recommended by our team of textiles experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute, as well as options worn by staffers on their own commutes.
We found the best work backpacks for women you can buy for your money and lifestyle — whether you're a frequent flyer who needs a good laptop backpack with a trolley sleeve for carry-on luggage or someone who dashes out the door without checking the weather and could benefit from a water-resistant bag. Pair your new backpack with laptop sleeves to close the loop on your work essentials.
A favorite among GH staffers and testers, the slim and stylish Calpak checks off nearly everything you'd need in a work backpack: An attractive faux leather design and a practical spacious interior. In fact, we found it can accommodate a significant amount without looking like a true travel backpack.
It can prevent your laptop from jostling around thanks to the built-in laptop sleeve that's accessible as its own compartment. It even has a trolley sleeve for slipping onto luggage. Note that the backpack straps are not the most comfortable for extended wear. Shop its dozens of colorways here.
Getting a quality backpack can mean shelling out $100 or more. However, this under-$30 pick stands out with its slew of handy features. Its exceptional popularity is tallied by over 70,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. The substantial padding on the backpack's straps ensures comfort and prevents it from constantly digging into your shoulders.
It also includes numerous practical features, such as an anti-theft lock, a padded laptop compartment and a built-in USB port for convenient on-the-go charging (though you'll need to supply your own portable battery).
If you're going from class to class or meeting to meeting, keep your devices at the ready thanks to this backpack with several electronics holders. There's a front slip pocket and a back zipper pocket that each fit a 15" laptop for easy access. If you're not keen on keeping valuables close to the exterior all day long, there's also an inner laptop pocket. The classic design comes in several colors, including fashionable black croc and neutral brown, so you can better match your personal style. While shoppers liked its leather material, it runs a bit stiff and thus is less spacious on the inside.
Quite a few GH staffers rep Portland Leather on their daily commute. Many agree that the clean, minimalist leather backpack crafted from durable, water-resistant fabric feels professional. The spacious main compartment holds a laptop while leaving plenty of space inside for a spare sweater, lunch and more.
"It doesn't feel bulky no matter how much you load it up, and it's very comfortable, with adjustable straps that don't dig into your shoulders," says Senior Editor Alyssa Jung. Figure the padded back panel into the equation, and you get optimal comfort. It comes in several shade, but due to the nature of leather, the color may vary from batch to batch.
If you want to err on the cheaper side, this backpack pick is available for under $30 on Amazon and features a water-resistant canvas and nylon shell (helpful when commuting to the office is rain or shine). It comes in 25 colors and patterns. Plus, there's a USB charging port (battery not included) for charging on the go.
The top-loading zippered opening can cram books and folders, galore. "It’s big inside, but doesn’t look Big or bulky," says one Amazon shopper. Keep IDs and keys at the ready inside the discreet zippered pocket on the back. Some online reviewers thought the straps weren't quite comfortable for all-day wear, but the bag does include to grab handles.
Stick to the basics with this State bag. The no-frills option came highly recommended by GH Food Producer Tina Martinez, who has taken it on countless commutes. "I've been really rough on it, just shoving it wherever and dropping it when I get home, but it's held up," she says. "It's also not too big but still has enough room for everything I need."
The back compartment's padded sleeve safely and securely stores 13" laptops. It also has a trolley sleeve that makes it suitable for business travel. Though it's only available in black, you can make it feel more like you with the "personalize your bag" option.
Lululemon's got your back on day trips, road trips and vacations. Inside, there are plenty of pockets (including a designated laptop pocket) for water bottles, cell phones, headphones and keys. GH General Manager Laurie Jennings appreciates its "elegant" structured shape that fits a lot while staying stylish.
"I also love the easy-pull carabiner on the front zippered pocket," she adds. "It's detachable and has saved my keys on many a hike, including in Glacier National Park. I could load it up and wear it all day — no back trouble." A few Lululemon shoppers noted some trouble with the zippers getting jammed though.
Simple and lightweight, the Athleta backpack totes essentials with ease. The roomy main compartment (with double zippers) stashes a pair of clothes, shoes and a water bottle, while the separate laptop compartment and zippered mesh pocket can prevent valuable items from shifting around too much.
"I've used weekenders, work totes and work backpacks, alike," says one GH editor. "The Athleta backpack has worked as one of the best overnight bags, carrying a heavy load yet feeling comfortable." While this editor found that the fabric has held up to rain and hasn't shown much wear and tear, she noted that the key leash is a bit flimsy.
Even on shorter trips or a daily commute, the Metro Backpack means business. Our pros praised Monos luggage for being a worthwhile investment, thanks to its superior design and durability in our Lab tests. Keep loose items like charging cords and travel essentials handy with the backpack's removable front pouch. The streamlined interior pockets keep devices and papers orderly.
Fit the built-in trolley sleeve securely around the handle of your favorite suitcase to use the backpack as a personal item on flights. And choose from a slate of stylish vegan leather or nylon options. It fits large laptops, but Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Product Analyst Grace Wu found it felt heavier than other backpacks she's tried — even those larger in size.
Troubadour's Apex Backpack makes a worthwhile travel companion. The backpack has a sleek silhouette with vegan leather details. "It's on the smaller side for a backpack," says Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine, "but it's the perfect size to slide under an airplane seat when traveling, and there's a luggage sleeve, which makes rolling through the airport easier."
It doesn't skimp on features, either, with tons of pockets for pens, pencils, headphones and, of course, a laptop pocket. A completely full backpack makes it a tight squeeze for water bottles inside their pockets — and large water bottles can't fit at all. Constantine's husband uses an Apex Backpack as well, and the bag has earned him compliments from coworkers and clients on business trips.
This popular Everlane backpack is made with 100% recycled polyester that also has a water-repellent finish. One Everlane shopper says: "I've gotten stuck in (pretty extreme) rain a few times, and the water-resistant material kept everything pretty dry."
Haul everything from a 15" device that fits snugly in the zippered laptop compartment to water bottles in the two — external and internal! — designated holders. This pick also has a back strap to fit on top of a carry-on suitcase, if you've got to travel for work. We like the look, but some shoppers noted that they didn't care for the feel of the fabric.
Add a vintage touch to your everyday ensemble with a faux leather backpack. Rated as Amazon's Choice, this pick costs just $38 and boasts a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. Shoppers appreciate its craftsmanship, noting the "clean and minimal" stitching and "both supple and rugged" leather.
Despite not having padding, the straps were not uncomfortable to reviewers. It's worth noting that it'll fit devices only up to 14.3", so it may be better suited for tablets or regular-sized laptops rather than MacBook Pros.
Our pros like MZ Wallace for its simple, commuter-friendly designs. This chic quilted backpack adopts the same durable, easy-to-clean nylon that earned the brand a spot on our list of top tote bags. Not to mention, two deep side pockets give ample room to hold water bottles.
The bag incorporates a plethora of smart features like a laptop sleeve and a key ring while leaving plenty of space for books and more. Opinions varied on its professional appearance due to the quilted texture, but you can choose from a few different patterns and color options!
Ditch stiff backpacks that dig into your shoulders: This bag from Dagne Dover features the brand's trademark neoprene fabric, which feels soft and squishy. It doesn't sacrifice on the details, either, thanks to interior compartments designed to hold anything from a water bottle to a cell phone. One GH editor loved its ample organization, including three inner zippered pockets tucked within its lining and two outer pockets for drawing wallets or work badges on the fly.
Transition into a gym bag or a carry-on for a weekend getaway, by adding sneakers to the removable pouch or slipping the luggage sleeve onto roller carry-on handles. Take note: You may want to keep a fabric shaver around, as we found that the neoprene fabric may pill if you’re rough with the bag. The brand just released a mesh iteration if you want to forego the maintenance. We found it lightweight but wasn't as protective during rainy conditions.
Tumi, a well-known luxury brand, is renowned for its quality bags, and our pros can't get enough. The Search Backpack is a sleek match for conferences and work trips. In fact, one GH analyst has used this bag for over 10 years, throughout school and work and on multiple domestic and international flights. Testers were also impressed by how "surprisingly spacious" and "high quality" it felt, though the top-loading configuration isn't as seamless for packing.
As an added bonus, Tumi bags and luggage typically come with a five-year warranty and free repairs plus a lifetime registration and tracking service for finding lost bags. Even after five years, you can ask the brand to repair your bag for a slight fee.
Calpak's Luka backpack adopts the same puffy material that earned the brand the top spot on our best weekender bags list. Its sleek material was easy to wipe clean and held its shape. It has two main compartments — one with a protective laptop sleeve and one large enough to fit a pair of shoes. The puffy fabric looks stylish in any of the 14 fun shades.
One tester found that the "durable exterior" shielded the items inside her bag from rain while traveling. She did, however, notice a bit of the stitching unraveling around the trolley sleeve, so we recommend it for casual travel instead of outdoor adventure wear.
Shuttle work items to and fro with this sturdy Timbuk2 backpack. Store valuables in the felt-lined pockets and stash 15" to 17" laptops in the designated laptop pocket. Even when the pockets are full, there is ample space in the generous main compartment.
We like that we can feel a bit more secure on-the-go thanks to thoughtful touches like the reflective carrying straps that buckle together in front. It's not the only favorite we've found from the brand: Hearst Software Engineer Bobby Cummings raves about the brand's "gaming" backpack — the ASTRO Gaming BP35 Backpack, — for its "thoughtful design."
The North Face laptop backpack has impressed us for more than a decade. It was a top performer when we initially tested it, and it has not ceased to impress with its durability in abrasion tests and water-resistance in drop tests. GH survey respondents say they love how versatile North Face backpacks are, too, wearing them "hiking, traveling, going to classes and teaching."
Padded straps at the waist and sternum offer optimal comfort. The laptop compartment is separate from the large main interior, and there are two water bottle pockets. Plus, the front bungee system can keep a jacket on hand. We did find that the overall aesthetic is more geared to recreational rather than business use.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
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